General Chat

http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/remembrance

http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/remembrance/we-will-remember-them

http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/remembrance/we-will-remember-them/keeping-their-memory-alive

Mum spoke of him warmly; it was always ‘Our Will’
She was just a toddler when he went off to France,
The brave young man I never got to meet, ‘My Uncle Will’

Private William Godden
11th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment
Died 1 Oct 1916 aged 20

My dad was 19 when the WW II broke out, and had just joined his place at Uni in Lvov, which was in those days part of Poland.

He spent the next few years trying to get back home to Silesia where his home was, working wherever he could with the resistance. Although he was Polish by birth, he spoke fluent German, which kept him away from capture.

He was, eventually caught out in 1943 but was given a lifeline, join the German Army as a conscript or be shot.

Nine month later he was, thankfully, captured by the Canadian Army as a German POW in Boulogne and brought over to England.

On arrival in England he was enrolled in the Polish rehabilitation corps and reached the rank of Lance Corporal. His service entitled him to a War Medal, but he felt he was unworthy and refused to accept it.

I contacted the Polish Army Record office a couple of years ago and the sent my my dad's German Soldbuch (Army Pay book) which was in his file and had been there for nearly 70 years.

This was so spooky as it matched the German dog tag he had carried in his wallet. I had asked him years ago what this was but he never revealed its true origin.

I was also sent his original card to request his Medal which was received a few weeks later.

Sadly my dad was never able to come to terms with his experiences and took his own life in 1980. He was just 61 at the time.

That is what I remember.

My brief life is over,
My eyes no longer see,
No summer walks, no xmas trees,
No pretty girls for me,
I've got the chop. I've had it,
My nightly ops are done,
Yet in another hundred years,
I'll still be twenty-on

In memory of my father Flying Officer J.W.Lynes, who lost his life over Holland on 20th Dec 1942 while returning from a bombing mission., one month before I was born.
Also remembering, my second cousin,Capt Michael Trelease who died of wounds March 1945, and my Stepfather Flt Sgt Edward Wake POW in the Far East, who thankfully survived, but sadly died aged 67 in 1987

Denis Flanagan <3

I think we should not forget the bowmen of Agincourt,Poitiers,Hastings and all the other battles that havebeen fought to protect our freedom over the centuries.

They gave as much.

Remembering my Grandad, Ernest Alexander Barr, who was evacuated from the Dunkirk beaches by one of the "little boats", wearing not a stitch,and deaf due to shell fire. He fortunately lived: he was my hero, and taught me to read before I went to school. Sadly, he died aged 52 from cancer, but I'll always remember him with love and respect.
LYNDA

I will be there as usual at the local Cenotaph paying my respects to the men and women who gave their all for us,and of course family and friends who were killed in defense of our Country and way of life. May they all Rest in Peace. and get the respct they deserve.**M**.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

From Laurence Binyon's poem For the Fallen, written in September 1914

Today my husband decided that he simply could not lead the meeting to remember all who have died for their country because he would be to distressed.
The person who had this role for meany years said "well that is easy to rearrange, in fact we thought about this other person but thought you would be disappointed if we did not ask you......so we nominate your wife, with history going back to the army personal in the Battle of Waterloo with a 12 year old boy holding England's flag".

I feel honoured, proud and a little scared, but not afraid to do my best for all who served.

To everyone who has had Family , friends etc, serve in the forces, you will all be thought of whilst I undertake this truly honourable position.

Meanwhile please say a quick prayer for me not to make any mistakes.

Bridget

FREDERICK NOTZKE, 22nd Battalion London Regiment, killed in action on the Somme 16/9/1916, aged 20.

WILFRED COOMBES, 14th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment, killed in action in the hell and mud that was Passchendale 21/10/1917, aged 20.

RONALD JERRARD, Royal Marines, lost with HMS Barham 25/11/1941, aged 29.

ROBERT DASHWOOD, Royal Navy, lost with HMS Esk 1/9/1940, aged 20.

Never Known but Always Remembered x

George ThomasTredgold Birkett
10th City of London Battalion arrived in gallipoli late July, killed in action 15th August 1915 aged 18 years


Leslie C Colbrook
2nd Lieutenant Hampshire Regiment
Killed in action Belguim 1/02/1917 aged 23 years

Fred Fielden
Private Lancashier Fuiselliers
Killed in action Flanders aged 31 years.

William Crook Patchett
Private in the Machine Gun Corps
Killed in action 16/08/1916 Flanders France.
Aged 25 years

Thomas Renshaw
Kings Own Royal Lancashire Regiment
Lance Corporal
Killed in action 20/07/1916 Flanders France.
Aged 20 years

Charles Tongs
L/Crpl Hampshire Regiment
Killed in action 1915 Flanders France aged 44 years

Basil Fulton RAF
Age: 21
North Sea 1940; LÜTZKENDORF: The squadron detailed 5 aircraft to attack the oil refinery at Lützkendorf. The Ball (X3054) and Bowden (P1176) crews both made attacks on the primary, the latter crew landing back at North Coates - a third aircraft bombed an alternativ


R.I.P
XXX

We will be watching my Sons under 15s football on Sunday but there is always a minutes silence observed at the games.

Thinking of all those brave men and women who have given so much to us all


Teresa

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recessional_(poem)

God of our fathers, known of old—
Lord of our far-flung battle line—
Beneath whose awful hand we hold
Dominion over palm and pine—
Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,
Lest we forget—lest we forget!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/9662669/War-Horse-app-with-original-photos-maps-and-first-hand-soldier-accounts-to-bring-World-War-I-to-life.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-20245308

Hundreds attend Enniskillen Poppy Day bomb services

Remembering Fred Daisley. On researching the house I now live in I discovered Fred Daisley lived in this house. He was killed in France 20.7.1916 aged 23 yrs. old. I will add a wooden cross at our war memorial tomorrow for him.
R.I.P. Fred.
Hilary x

O Valiant Hearts
Words by Sir John S. Arkwright
Music by The Rev. C, Harris DD
Tune: The Supreme Sacrifice


O valiant hearts who to your glory came
through dust of conflict and through battle flame;
tranquil you lie, your knightly virtue proved,
your memory hallowed in the land you loved.

Proudly you gathered, rank on rank, to war
as who had heard God's message from afar;
all you had hoped for, all you had, you gave,
to save mankind - yourselves you scorned to save.

Splendid you passed, the great surrender made;
into the light that nevermore shall fade;
deep your contentment in that blest abode,
who wait the last clear trumpet-call of God.

Long years ago, as earth lay dark and still,
rose a loud cry upon a lonely hill,
while in the frailty of our human clay,
Christ, our Redeemer, passed the self-same way.

Still stands his Cross from that dread hour to this,
like some bright star above the dark abyss;
still, through the veil, the Victor's pitying eyes
look down to bless our lesser Calvaries.

These were his servants, in his steps they trod,
following through death the martyred Son of God:
Victor, he rose; victorious too shall rise
they who have drunk his cup of sacrifice.

O risen Lord, O Shepherd of our dead,
whose cross has bought them and whose staff has led,
in glorious hope their proud and sorrowing land
commits her children to thy gracious hand.

I will be carrying the Union flag as usual at village parade and thinking of all those who served and are serving in our Armed Forces. Special thoughts for our local lad killed in Afghanistan at the early age of 23 he was a friend of my children.

Dear All

Hello


To remember all those who died and all those who still suffer
as a result of conflict and war.

With deep respect.

Elizabeth, EOS
xx